Reviews (page 5 of 8)
The signature sound for that era in American pop music. I respect it but don’t love it, although “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” is a top-notch F-off song!
A must listen for its inception of folk rock and (more importantly?) the Wrecking Crew; however, it’s very flat after the first two songs, and the final track is a dud. I understand why teens glommed onto this sound, but the band could have used more practicing/gelling before releasing this. “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” is the best track.
Pretty meh, overall.
I don't know what it was about harmonizing in the 60s - The Grateful Dead, The Band, and at times The Byrds harmonizing just sounds like screeching cats to my ears. Maybe I'm not the right amount of drugs to get it. Thankfully, The Byrds keep the screech-harmonies to a minimum here. They still pop up once in a while, but for the most part the vocals are good. As for the music, the four(!) Dylan covers are all great, and the Gene Clark penned tunes are mostly great. Never did like anyone's version of "Bells of Rhymney", the lyrics are so repetitive. The album, from what I understand, was a huge step forward for American music, post British invasion. Got to respect that, but listening to it today, while it is quite good, it's not without its faults. I'll give it a 3.
Eh ... didn't love it didn't hate it!
60s folk rock has never been my thing. Don't think it ever will be.
Listen guys. There are some good songs here. But like four Dylan covers might be pushing it. And the original Mr Tambourine Man is way better. Favorites were I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better, All I Really Want To Do, Chimes Of Freedom, and We’ll Meet Again.
7/10
All songs sound alike. Way too similar. Nice melodies and harmonies but nothing special to make it into a top anything list. Its fun and easy to listen but thats it
Sans plus mais sympa
Het begint al goed met vrolijke deuntjes! Een aantal snoozefest nummers op het album, maar ook zeker een handjevol leuke nummers. Sommige nummers zijn wel echt beatles inspired (of juist andersom), maar is ook uit dezelfde tijdsperiode.
The album was largely forgettable. Pretty much exactly what one would expect from late '60's pop-rock. Not bad really, but not an album that is transformative or really even that distinguishable from others of its time.
Great sound, but a bit samey throughout.
Chill old-school pop
Its nice
Appreciate the talent but not my style of music.
It’s a decent, dreamy, 60’s album. The unique sound of The Byrds with their dual voices of which one is falsetto was born. 3/5
This was a pretty alright album, nothing super exciting, but it was nice having it in the background while I was doing stuff. A bit old sounding, but given that it came out in 1965, before all the more exciting music, this sounds pretty good actually.
3.5 stars, really. Unoffensive, some good harmonies, but not something I go out of my way to listen to.
...
El álbum debut de la banda de rock The Byrds está repleto de cartas de amor y desamor sobre unas clásicas bases instrumentales del rock de los 60. Entre esta colección de poemas de amor, encontramos también letras que hablan de escapismo, de crítica social, de paz, de amistad y de optimismo. La colaboración de Bob Dylan en este álbum aporta algunos de los temas más interesantes del álbum, destacando el escapismo y la búsqueda de una nueva realidad en la pista que da título al álbum, una de las más exitosas de la banda, o el grito por la paz y la justicia en el mundo que aparece en “Chimes of Freedom”. Sin duda el mensaje más potente de todo el disco. El resto de canciones abordan el amor y el desamor desde distintos puntos de vista: el amor a primera vista en “I Knew I’d Want You”, el dolor, la tristeza y el sentimiento de soledad tras una ruptura en “Here Without You” e “It’s No Use”. La toxicidad de una relación que no va del todo bien en “I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better” o, por el contrario, una relación sana, casi una amistad en “All I Really Want to Do” —compuesta por Dylan—. Musicalmente, engloba el sonido del rock de la década de los 60, guitarras eléctricas y baterías, acompañadas de las potentes voces de Gene Clark y David Crosby, y la guitarra de 12 cuerdas de Roger McGuinn que se convirtió en la seña de identidad de la banda. “Mr. Tambourine Man” es un álbum perfecto para descubrir los sonidos del rock y el folk rock de los 60.
I don't think of The Byrds as a band I love, but they are uniquely able to put me in another state of consciousness, wch is not nothing.
All of the songs on this album are fine, but overall the album just kind of... runs together into one long semi-same-ish amalgam of a similar tune.
Very pretty sounding and a great example of the psychedelic 60s sound. That said, a lot of the songs ran together and there was not enough variety in the sound. While that makes for a cohesive sound, it does also make it a bit bland. Mr. Tambourine Man slaps, and I really enjoyed their take on We’ll Meet Again. 3
Some pretty run of the mill psychedelic rock.
Highlight: I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better. In a nutshell: the American band that challenged the Brits. A checklist for inventing a new genre in the 60’s: ✅ adapt the British Invasion sound (think early Beatles or Gerry and the Pacemakers without the orchestra) ✅ The Wrecking Crew ✅ Dylan covers ✅ harmonies ✅ jangly guitar Result? Folk rock. The genre popularised by The Byrds. A little formulaic at times, but still good. Overall: 6/10
Me ha gustado más por recordarme a los músicos que se inspiran en ellos que por ellos mismos. Me refiero a que me han recordado a Johnny Marr o a Billy Bragg. Me he guardado en favoritos: Mr. Tambourine man, I'll feel a whole lot better y Don't doubt yourself, babe.
plain
Loved the first two tracks. The Mr Tambourine Man cover is a great cover even though it’s dumbed down and sweetend. The opening guitar part alone feels like it inspired a thousand jangle rock bands. But for me jangle rock is best in small doses, before it gets too bland, which is exactly what happens here. Too many banal early Beatles sounding love songs with incredibly boring lyrics.
Decent little 60s pop record following The Beatles by about a year. Spangly guitar and good harmonies are very much this records signature.
Currently on holiday so I haven’t listened as detailed as I’d like to. But it’s all jangly 60’s guitar music, nothing too special.
These are just Bob Dylan songs that I can’t shake ass to.
Some alright songs, but gets a bit dull
Dylan did it all better
It's exactly what you expect from the Byrds in 1965. It's fine and an easy listen. It's not hard to see their influence on other artists, especially into the following decade. Other than that, there's nothing spectacular or earthshattering here (or ear-shattering, either).
You'll know the title track and All I Really Want To Do the most, but they're well supported here. Nice album.
Jingle, check. Jangle, check. Excessive jingle jangle, check. Dylan/Byrds/Beatles, who influenced who? Round and round it goes. Where it stops, no one kno..........1973.
7/10 me ha gustado mucho. me dan la vibra de los beatles. Para un día de verano con solecito y playa es genial
Really liked "I'll feel a whole lot better" the rest was just ok
Idk man. Original songs arent that original. Cover songs dont blow me away
Tambourine Man- Review: I’ll preface this review by saying I’m not a fan of folk music. I’ll take Ozzy over Roger McGuinn any day. I do love Crosby though. So, this album has some good tracks, but the overall sound is too similar from song to song. The tempo and harmony is pleasing to me, but in a background music sort of way. That seems a bit harsh, but it just felt sleepy. I’m torn between a 2 & 3. The musicianship is worth at least a 3, but my personal taste is saying 2.
Pretty good classic rock album
I've come to appreciate the Byrds and David Crosby over the course of this challenge, but apart from the first 2 songs, this doesn't do much for me. Granted, I was already quite familiar with both of those, but still. I recognized the importance of this one, but still think the Byrds' legacy is over represented in this book.
This is the second Byrds album I've gotten through this project. I liked this one better than the first, but will not revisit it. Standout track: Mr. Tambourine Man
A band that wants to be The Beatles, but isn't quite there. This is certainly the hippy-era rock music with that stereotypical sound. All that aside to say that this record is a really nice listen. It's easy melodies and harmonies, and the vocals are very soothing. A pleasant experience, but nothing significantly impactful.
Strong start! Each song sounds quite similar to eachother yet at the same time sticks out on its own. Reminds me of the Beatles, but still has their own sound. Nearly all love songs. Being Bob Dylan covers takes away from it compared to if it was all originals. Strong 3/5 Song added to playlist: Mr Tambourine Man
I wasn't initially aware of how many of these songs were covers. Everything sounds fine enough; folksy, jangly renditions of some Bob Dylan songs among a few other folk songs from the time. Everything just sounded the same, however. The same jangly guitar, same underlying beat, etc.
Too much jingle. Not enough jangle
Everything sounded like it was Turn Turn Turn. A decent enough album. Its place in history well noted. I'll never listen to it again
Beatlesque
This meets my criteria for 3 stars exactly. Its an album that is important in the history of music, specifically the development of folk-rock and the popularity in the early/mid 60s, but one that I personally find lacking. Its made up of a lot of covers, and I typically prefer the originals.
I enjoyed this album listen from The Byrds! They have a great sound and their voices blend well together. My issue is that most of their songs aren’t unique enough so they sort of blend into eachother. You can definitely hear other musical influences within these songs such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Crosby, Stills, and Nash etc. Overall, this is a strong debut album that I would listen to again and recommend to others!
Very 60's
3 von 5 Netter Folkrock, der nicht weh tut… Kann man bestimmt mehrmals hören und wird dann vielleicht sogar besser. Beim ersten Mal bleibt außer dem Dylan Cover wenig hängen.
Not bad, just not quite my thing.
Fun album! Some classic songs here, including a few that have been covered by others. Much better than Bob Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man,
It's fine. But done better many times before and since.
I do love an album with short songs. I knew a couple but the rest just blurred together. I certainly didn't dislike it and would listen to it again, but it is a pretty chill psych folk album
Sonically i am a fan, but this is very Dylan cover band. not a ton of originality here
Expected to dislike this , and my initial reaction was “wtf is this”, but some solid grooves, licks, and sad songs. THREE
It's been interesting listening to these older albums. In general even if I don't really care for it I appreciate the reason to listen to them. Sometimes I actively hate them, but most of the time I'm left with a "wasn't for me but I'm glad I listened to it at least once" feeling. Definitely the case today. classic 2.5 rounded up.
Outside of the title track I wasn’t familiar with any of these songs. It’s fine, 60s pop rock, not something I’d circle back to, but nothing that would cause me to leave the room if someone played it. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars, I guess.
The sound all kind of blends together a bit. But it's a good sound
The guitar and drums stood out as impressive and innovative for the 1960s. The album maintained a solid pace throughout and never felt drawn out. While the vocals lacked strength, they didn’t detract from the overall experience.
Although the hystorical value and the referencing importance of the 60's psychedelic and folksy music in many years to come, only a few bands have been able to stand the test of time and able to not sound absolutely dated. This album is a testimony of an era, and it is a very good one in that matter. But at the same time it is outdated and outclassed.
Interesting addition to the beginning of folk rock. Classic 60’s sound. Pretty alright overall, though I don’t see myself revisiting them.
meh
Classic mid-60's jangly rock. Pretty fun but didn't blow me away at all
The Wikipedia blurb here got my hopes up (noting that The Byrds inspired the term "folk rock"), but I didn't end up loving this album. It's definitely a "thank you for your service" album as I appreciate them laying the groundwork for later folk acts, but I didn't love the dated sound here. 2.7
Eh. Pretty monotonous, but overall fine. I liked the guitar though it basically sounds the same on nearly every song. Album ended strong with “We’ll Meet Again” and “Shes Got a Way”. Generally I don’t really like big harmonies when it comes to the number of people involved. Fine album but won’t seek out to listen to again.
Good laid back rock music. A lot of songs just made me think of turn! Turn! Turn! Though, which isn't on this album. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing that nearly every song made me think of one specific different one
Bueno
The scale of the Beatles influence is very notable and I have to say it’s just as well they were known for the Dylan cover because their own compositions are not especially memorable in their own right. At this point the blend of folk with British Invasion sounds is mostly the latter. The other surprising thing for a modern listener is the inaccuracy of so much of the playing on this album. It’s amazing, even by the standards of the day, how many fluffed notes and just mediocre playing made it through the editing process, if there was one. No wonder The Wrecking Crew were wheeled in to make Mr Tambourine Man work. The cover of We’ll Meet Again is comically bad. The choice of the Rickenbacker 12 string adds that distinctive and famous Byrds jangle and the harmonies are good enough. Overall this sounds like an optimist demo tape and I can only assume they got signed on the strength of their take on Mr Tambourine Man.
Groovy.
This is a good era album. Solid 3/5
I like the Byrds. I am not opposed to jangle, in fact I enjoy it for the most part. Sweetheart of the Rodeo is one of my favorite albums. But I don’t get much out of this. Mr. Tambourine Man does not strike me as an album you must hear before you die. It is more like an album by a band that would go on to do much more interesting things later on.
Cover band
Beatles Lite.
Very jangly guitars, classic 60's rock
I like these covers more than Dylan’s originals.
The vocals are pretty, but flaccid. The jangly guitar grates after awhile. It’s harmless but also not all that interesting.
I wasn't so familiar with the Byrds. They sound like something in-between the Beatles and Bob Dylan, with more... jangle?
While I've grown to appreciate the Byrds with each one of their entries on this list, this may be my least favorite of theirs so far. It's all very straightforward and boilerplate when compared to their other works, which makes sense, given this is a debut and all. The draw here is their cover of Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine Man' which doesn't hold a candle to the original. Their cover of 'My Back Pages' was infinitely better. An enjoyable listen, just not one with too many standout moments or anything.
Somebody had been listening to their Beatles as well as their Dylan records. As sixties as you can get
é.......... não é mto oq eu tava esperando q fosse ser (é mais repetitivo e chato)
metade das música são cover de BOB DYLAN versão rockzinho sessentista. bizarro. no mais, as originais deles são normais, meia boca.
It is becoming apparent that I like 60s music. I enjoyed this album. nothing too crazy, just some good tunes and a good sound. Best tunes: mr. tambourine man, i’ll feel a whole lot better, you won’t have to cry, here without you, i knew i’d want you, it’s no use
It was alright, nothing really stood out other than Mr Tambourine man
Alright. Product of it's time. 2.5/5
Jingle jangle Dylan.
you know, what it would actually sound like if a man equipped only with a tambourine played a song for you?
Mmm... "Bob Dylan cover band"? There's some weight behind that argument with 1/3rd of the songs on here penned by Bob. He must have been happy with the royalties. There's a bit more, though. The genesis of folk-rock, perhaps? There are pre-cursors of psychedelia too. This is important, influential; even if I don't particularly enjoy it. No-one really needed the Vera Lynn cover at the end. Epic fail. Minus a point for that. 3/5
I don't think this was a great album, especially as the best songs seemed to be the Dylan covers
Not really into this genre, particularly from this era. “Mr. Tambourine Man” is not a bad cover, but I prefer the original and even other covers over this one. It’s a little boring, but listenable. It’s a good attempt at being like The Beatles.
The whiplash of going from Public Enemy ending Fear Of A Black Planet with "Fight The Power" to The Byrds opening this with a jangly "Mr. Tambourine Man" was jarring. Anyway, The Byrds do a lot of Dylan for their first album, is it that great? good? passable? Meh... It's only saving grace is its punchy play time, 18 songs in 44 minutes, a lot of bang for your buck. Funny fact, "The Bells Of Rhymney" came up as "Hey Jealousy" by The Gin Blossoms on my phones ambient "now playing" display
It's ok. McGuinn's Rickenbacker 12-string is a signature sound, so there's that. Liked Songs Added: Mr. Tambourine Man All I Really Want To Do
It's remarkable to me that a band that wasn't quite ready for studio recording and that filled their debut album with lots of covers (mostly by Dylan) that would become their most requested songs, were able to (a) even get this album produced, (b) able to convince the producer that they were ready to be recorded (but not before their title track was played and recorded with studio musicians), and (c) become a huge influence and inspiration to US musicians for years afterwards. I think this is the first time I've heard anything from this album aside from their two famous singles "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "I'll feel a whole lot better". Their apparently-pioneering "folk rock" sound isn't really my kind of style, and they're remarkably consistent across the album with their jangly harmonies, so it's hard to pick out any favorites. I enjoyed their cover of Pete Seeger's "The bells of rhymney", the interesting Vera Lynn throwback "We'll meet again" (mainly because it made me think of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" more than "Dr. Strangelove"), and their cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man" is so familiar it's hard to ignore. However, the title track is definitely *not* one of the better Dylan covers, much like all of the Byrds' Dylan covers, sadly; they seem so intent on capturing the tone and style of Dylan's originals that they don't add anything interesting to the songs. This makes for #2 of 5 Byrds albums for me, so only 40% of the way through....
Giving it a 3 solely on the strength of "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better"
I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better is the best song on here by quite some distance. The Dylan songs just made me wish Dylan was singing them. A low three; marginally better than other Byrds efforts.
Beatles Lite.
This was fine.
Were a lot of people vibing with the Byrds? Here’s our one guitar tone we’re sticking to. Uh. Here’s the same song and mediocre production. I just don’t get it.
Good jangly 60s pop songs, but the Dylan covers are clearly best. 3.5 stars
I'm at 3.5 on this. I think the title track and "Feel a Whole Lot Better" are pretty awesome, but outside of "Feel a Whole Lot Better", the other originals on the album are kind of meh or at the very least they're overshadowed by the Dylan covers.
*Dylan covers are ok, but on the whole the album feels like an historical document.
Ppppppfffffffffttttttt. Is all I can say about this kind of music. It’s not doing anything to make me dislike it, but it sure as hell isn’t doing anything to make me like it, either. The makeup is characterised by Dylan covers, including the title track, which would be nice if I hadn’t heard the era-defining folk rock original before. Other covers are nice enough, with We’ll Meet Again being a weird-ish choice. It’s over in 30 minutes, which is an upside as it’s short and sweet - but it could easily be shorter and sweeter if limited to about 25 minutes instead. Once more, it’s alright. It’s just... alright.
American Beatles ahh
The Byrds. You know you're listening to them. Middle of the road entertainment. The first true 'background' music? And yet nothing awful.
Not bad.
I don't think that i will ever listen to it again. More enjoyable than any of the albums that i've given a "3". This one is a "3+".
This was a chill one. The Byrds are always consistent, this one is a little one note for me, but still a strong point of view and style.
C’est sympathique mais il y a quelque chose qui m’ennuie profondément chez les Byrds, peut être les harmonies vocales étonnamment plates, ou juste la voix nonchalante et assez quelconque du chanteur principal, le jeu de guitare semblable du début à la fin, les tambourins très envahissants sur certains titres, le fait que leur tube le plus connu soit une reprise sans intérêt d’une très bonne chanson (y a 4 reprises de Dylan sur cet album? et d’autres encore?). “I’ll feel a whole lot better” est pas mal. Sans doute que chaque chanson individuellement vaut mieux que le tout tellement l’ensemble se noie dans une grande soupe de guitare 12 cordes, tambourins et harmonies vocales.
Listened Before? N These guys were a great bridge between mainstream pop and psychedelic rock in the 60s. Mostly cover songs here, putting their own spin on them. I enjoyed it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: All I Really Wanna Do
If this was the American answer to the Beatles.................woof. It mildly recovered on the 2nd side, but there just felt like there was nothing redeeming. It honestly felt like the Crosby record, where they had a sound (yesyes the jangly guitar was great) but they couldn't actually write a song. Maybe on future plays it'll get a little better, but really only giving this a three because I like the sound and the back half mildly recovered. If this was a genre i didn't like.......eeek
Un album mid pero interesante que refleja mucho la época de Dylan y los Beatles.
Better than Dylan on the Dylan songs. Was enjoyable. Would be a good background album for the chill early [part of a 60s themed party
I quite liked it, but I can't say I plan to listen to it in full again.
auch schon in die Jahre gekommen, aber noch gut hörbar
Grade so drei. MTM ist gut aber nicht von ihnen.
2.6 Wiki seems to think they're more inspired by Dylan than Beatles but to me it just sounds like a complete Hard Days Night era rip-off. Doesn't help that half the songs are covers, something that always turns me off albums on this list. Overall inoffensive, to the point of being rather dull.
2 Byrds albums so far and no Turn! Turn! Turn! A solid 3 this.
Forgot to rate this immediately after listening yesterday, and I've forgotten most of the album already. Think it was alright. Standard old rock music.
It was quite a nice album to listen to whilst travelling to work. Also liked the cover of We’ll Meet Again
It was fine
Sounds kinda like early Beatles. Not bad but nothing really is a stand out track
American “British Invasion” rock mixed with some classic American folk sensibilities. I think it’s a nice, but doesn’t evoke much in me.
cute
Sounds like demos of Beatles/Dylan that haven’t been fleshed out yet. Rating: 3.2
Mr. Tambourine Man is fine for what it is, a jangly, folk-rock classic, but it’s not really my kind of listen. The harmonies and Dylan covers are solid, but it doesn’t quite grab me. A respectable album, just not one I'll be revisiting.
01) Mr. Tambourine Man - 10,0 02) I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better - 8,0 03) Spanish Harlem Incident - 7,0 04) You Won't Have to Cry - 6,5 05) Here Without You - 7,0 06) The Bells of Rhymney - 6,5 07) All I Really Want to Do - 7,0 08) I Knew I'd Want You - 7,5 09) It's No Use - 6,5 10) Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe - 6,5 11) Chimes of Freedom - 6,5 12) We'll Meet Again - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,13 (71/100) Current ranking: 249/421 Here's The Byrds again, for the ten thousandth time... For a change, I know one song on this album, but it's not their original either, so... I really don't understand why we have to listen to every one of their albums. But hey, at least I can conclude that The Byrds are, in my opinion, really overrated...
A few classics even I have heard in here, and the rest are at least nice to have around when doing something else.
Typical Byrds: obsessed with the songs of Bob Dylan and the sound of jingly 12 string guitars. Same old, same old. How many Byrds albums are included in this list?
The tambourine guy in this nand must had had a lot of sway in the group. Song, album title, and he's on every song. This is mostly standard fair 60s pop, though it gets a lot of leg work from their falsetto harmonizing. My favorites here are probably She Has a Way, We'll Meet Again, and Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe.
An American answer to the beetles for sure, although they would develop their own sound and become more psychedelic
Pleasant to listen to.
was enjoyable and uplifting 3.5 stars
one of the more bearable byrds albums but thats like saying a turd is less stinky than others
Enjoyable
This was Ok, but the Gene Clark penned songs were pretty lame. They have a nice sound, though. Strong mid 60-s left/right stereo separation.
It’s ok
It’s okay. Full-on early hippie, jangly pop. There’s a couple of cute songs, but mostly, the singer has a real Sonny Bono style.
Jingy jangly. I like the guitar but many of these songs song samey. It’s nice tho
This is some fun little rock n roll.
not bad but not too great
Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - Mr. Tambourine Man.
Неплохо, не без проблем
Good album.
Decent album, but the best song on there will always be a Dylan song for me.
Посредственность.
Some cute little folk rock with some solid covers, but doesn't move me too much.
All aboard the hippie love train
A pleasant venture into nostalgia land. But they are mostly covers and not a lot of differentiation.
i enjoyed this listen more than I have in the past. Maybe I needed to hear their sunny harmonies as we plunge into a dystopian nightmare. Not every song hits, but enough of them did. I think The Byrds are overrated. But only a bit.
Title track is nice and we'll meet again is famous.
A couple great songs
A solid record that contains the Byrds’ charm, but it was clear they were still almost entirely riding off their influences
Pretty good, but very repetitive
Best leuke muziek, maar weinig origineel, en veel hetzelfde
Jingly Jangly Pop. What's not to love?
It was jolly
Good folk rock
Mr. Tambourine Man, released just months after Dylan’s original, took his folk masterpiece and electrified it, introducing the Byrds’ signature jangly 12-string sound. The title track became an iconic hit, marking a pivotal shift in American music by blending folk lyricism with rock energy, and providing inspiration for acts like The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, and Tom Petty. Naming an album after a cover song feels odd today—almost like releasing an album called Stairway to Heaven, Bohemian Rhapsody, or Sweet Child O' Mine. But in 1965, this approach didn’t hinder The Byrds; if anything, it amplified their impact. And yet, the original material, despite making up just 1/3 of the album, represents some of the highlights of Mr. Tambourine Man. Gene Clark’s "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" is undeniably catchy and showcases the band’s potential beyond covers, while "You Won't Have to Cry" and "Here Without You" offer a softer, introspective side that hinted at the Byrds’ coming growth. Lyrically, these originals may lack the depth of Dylan’s work, but they form a strong foundation for the band. Later albums would see deeper, more ambitious lyrics as Chris Hillman and David Crosby contributed more, but these early tracks are solid and enjoyable, if somewhat formulaic in their sound. While the jangly sound can be repetitive, it helps maintain the album's cohesion. Today, Mr. Tambourine Man might seem a bit quaint or one-dimensional to listeners accustomed to more experimental folk rock. Still, it’s impossible to overlook the impact of Mr. Tambourine Man, even if it’s more a starting point than the Byrds’ creative peak. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? Historically yes, musically The Byrds made better records Would this release make my personal list? No Will I be listening to it again? Sure, occasionally.
It’s ok, but it feels like an inferior combination of Bob Dylan and the Beatles. 7/10
There are some good songs on here but I don't know if this album has a place in this book. I think the argument is the sound the Byrds are making here and not the music you hear the sound through. I say this because there are 3-4 iconic songs on here with some filler. I could hear them working out their sound on songs like Here Without You and It's No Use. The Byrds definitely piggybacked on Dylan's popularity with the large amount of covers they did of his songs. I don't know if it is a bad thing, yet I do know Younger Than Yesterday is a better representation of the band (in my opinion). If you enjoy their big hits I don't know if this album is going to bring you anything different that you need to hear.
Perfectly fine folk based Beatles style rock, but absolutely not my jam.
Nice jangly guitar sound, but they all start to sound the same after a while. Other bands (or Bob Dylan) do better versions.
I mean it’s fine but I feel like I’ve heard this album 10 times on this list already
Fine
It was fine. Nice background music but not doing anything to stand out for me
It's good. It's not my normal jam, and it's not clean like the Beetles. But it's good and I can listen to it over and over without complaint.
Not bad. Nice background music
Very 60's folksy-happy-shiny-bright
This is entirely fine. I it is very of its era, and that’s not a bad thing, but I don’t think that, for me, it quite rises above the glut of similar bands of that time.
Generic and forgettable 60s album
Reminded me of the Kinks
Don't hate it, don't love it. Basically uninterresting.
The most neutral pretty 60s folk rock, close your eyes and imagine "60s folk rock" and this plays. At the time, the concept of folk rock was new and astounding amd the Byrds obviously are chockablock with influential characters from music history! A few generations later, this is just a nice collection of mostly covers.
Quite Bealtesque which I like more than the county direction they go into in their works.
Sounds very nice with excellent vocal harmonies and that recognisable guitar sound. Great songs too but (because) most of them are covers incl. Bob Dylan's. Their own material is a bit limited and (I've done some background reading) some of the songs (incl. Tambourine Man) are played by session musicians rather than the band themselves. So, even though I liked listening to this album, I can't give it a very high score. If they had composed and played all of the songs themselves it would have been a 4 or a 5.
It listens like a little grittier version of Simon & Garfunkel, where, with the jangly guitar, they're going for a bit more Beatles- and Dylan-esque sound. It's not unpleasant, but the Byrds would be doing better things down the track.
Title track is most recognized, bit they all have the same overall sound with the vocal harmonies and the jangling guitar sound.
Jangly folky music. It wasn't bad but all songs sounded the same. Stand-out: I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
Jingle jangle jingle jangle jingle jangle. Nice harmonies. A bit one paced.
Beatles mallista musiikkia. Ei paljon muuta sanottavaa. Parhaat: It's No Use
Solid album. There was a lot to like on this album. The production especially was a highlight for me and the good vocals made the album enjoyable to listen to. There wasn't anything that I found extraordinary about the album but I'd much rather listen to this than something like Screamo. Best - Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, You Won't Have to Cry, All I Really Want to Do, and Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe Worst - No bad songs 3.50/5
Not a bad record, but showing them off through other people’s songs. They will come into their own later, so not sure why nearly every Byrds album belongs on the list.
I was looking forward to this but I left disappointed. Nothing really was that interesting on this album. I much prefer their later work than the jangly, middle of the road tunes on this record. Good effort for their debut record.
has nothing on william shatner tbh highlights: i’ll feel a whole lot better, spanish harlem incident (aug 18 2024)
I love the Byrd's as an artist. No one can argue that they perform great songs which are in many ways timeless. Their albums don't appeal to me. They feel disjointed with a few hitsongs surrounded by run of the mill filler. Mr. Tambourine is unfortunately not different
6.5
Lovely warm sound but not the most interesting album I've heard from them
Ah more 60's rock! I can't complain too much because this is a debut album from an American rock band. Even so, this felt like a lot of the other albums we have listened to. I'd argue it would have played better if we had heard this towards the beginning of this journey, not the end.
Our fifth (!) album from the Byrds, and it's their debut. A good chunk of it is covers, and Dylan covers to be precise. Those happen to be my favorites, because I already love those songs. Otherwise, a lot of this sounds like imitative Beatles music. Obviously their sound evolved from here, and this one's decent, but we don't need it here frankly. Five from the Byrds and two from Gene Clark solo (so far), who needs all of that on here? This is our 999th album, so the end is in sight, at least until we start doing user submissions. But I look forward to crafting my own version of this list when it's all said and done. The Byrds will be there, but certainly not 5 times. Favorite tracks: All I Really Want to Do, Chimes of Freedom, Mr. Tambourine Man (perfect place for a Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, and Dylan joke). Album art: Fisheye shot of the band. That's it really. Text is very of-the-era, black framing is a strong, bold choice. But overall, forgettable cover. 3/5
Pleasant enough, but not something I'm in a hurry to revisit.
#309. Pleasant enough, easy to listen to hippie music. 3/5: acceptable
Solid, all 2 minute songs, poppy/folk of the 60s
Classic songs on this. But it's dated.
The electric jangly 12-string has rarely worked for me with anyone. Which was sorta The Byrds' jam, and likely the major reason I've never been able to connect at all with them. There's absolutely nothing offensive or unlistenable, and it's probably unfair and impossible to detach from the time period (1965) and how revolutionary this band and sound were. The simple and syrupy vocals are impressive yet completely unmoving to me. Technically...yes...nice harmonies. But how can it all be so dull. Gimme CSN. Nostalgically it's sorta nice to hear the big singles (first 2 tracks) so familiarity probably wins some points here - I feel like it's a personal 2 since I'd never put this on but it's undeniably filled with melodic songs and it feels a little lame to not acknowledge the impact so I'll give it a reluctant and honourary 3 and move on. 7/10 3 stars.
Good old time band
Great album. Had no idea Tom Petty covered Feel a Whole Lot Better
Uninspiring, but relaxed. Maybe if I was born in the 60s -- or maybe if I had more time to care -- this album would be my favorite. But, I was born in 2003 and I'm studying engineering, so instead, this album sits at three stars.
This started off strong but then petered off pretty quickly. Hard to rate this very high when the best songs are Dylan covers, and it really feels dated now, but it was fine for what it was.
A classic album, but a little too 60s-ish for me.
Good songs, but a little too much of the same throughout
I just enjoyed it that's my note
kinda like the beatles, solid
Takie amerykanskie beatlesy. Może być 3/5
still underwhelmed
1965. As you’d expect expect they have their own sound - kind of a Beatles Monkees combo.
After the first two hits (of which “I Feel a Whole Lot Better” really clicks), it’s kinda bland. No great deep cut discoveries. The Bo Diddley stuff in Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe is ok, but it’s still their voices. I’ll listen to Dylan or Petty first. We ain’t meeting again, guys.
Yep, another one from this genre. And the Americans moan about too much Britpop. Jangly and pleasant but a bit dull. Mr Tambourine Man is good but not their song. And the cover of We’ll Meet Again is a shocker. Next!
Good but you can’t give a covers album higher than 3 imho.
It's a good album by a good band, I just can't pretend to find The Byrds even remotely as interesting as Dimery clearly does
Hey, I know this! Started just as expected, and became happily less so. I prefer when they turn sultry and minor. Funnily enough I also prefer a lot of the alternate versions. Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe was a cute encouraging song even tho it has hardly any plays compared with many others, but it was very welcome :))
Jingly jangly 60s indie pop. Fine but nothing else
Nice 60s chill
The second album I’ve had so far by The Byrds l, I definitely preferred this one. Nice catchy pop but the songs did all sound similar to each other. Listens: 2 Fave Track: I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better Rating: 3
Ehhhh I think the Byrds didn't need this many albums on the list. It's pretty fine sounding mid-60s folk rock. Nothing really elevates beyond many other albums from that era.
Not much to say, it was ok
Not a bad album, but nothing standout.Turn! Turn! Turn is much better
Wel okee maar deed me niet heel veel
Leuk hoor, lekker beatles vibe, beetje bob dlan coveren, ga hem alleen denk ik niet nog een keer helemaal luisteren
Nothing special about this in my opinion.... Not too bad, not too good.
Favourites: Mr tambourine man, I'll feel a whole lot better, chimes of freedom, you and me instrumental. A pleasant album but a little bland for my taste. 3/5
Lowkey boring, but has a nice familiar sound that's honestly kinda comforting. Sounds like its time. I think if it were sunny outside while I listened to this I would enjoy it a lot more. Unfortunately I am instead stuck fighting for my life at school. Favourites were Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, All I Really Wanna Do, and We'll Meet Again. Average 3
Big things were happening in this area of rock. The Byrds were a big part of that. Nice music.
I like it, but most of it is not very memorable. Favorite song: it's no use.
The Byrd’s Mr. Tambourine Man is extremely boring. I liked I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better because the instruments used in that song sound good, and the vocals are nice and clear. Otherwise, the songs don’t sound bad, but they are just not that interesting. All in all, Mr. Tambourine Man is an alright album. Best Song: I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better Wort Song: All I Really Want To Do
Good album
Wrote a glowing review and it didn’t take. Not doing it again, it’s 2:30 AM! Solid work by a legendary band in the American Folk Rock genre.
Jingle jangle. Dylan civer. Jingle jangle. Distinctive sound. Jingle jangle. Bit dull. Jingle jangle....repeat.
De titelsong is wereldberoemd en klinkt helemaal geweldig! Maar hoe zit het met de rest? Ook leuk! Alles bij elkaar, een prima album.
The four best songs on this album are all Bob Dylan covers. I go back to the Byrds version of 'Spanish Harlem Incident' and 'Chimes of Freedom' often.
Apart from the classic title song "Mr. Tambourine Man", the rest of this folk-rock album is beginning to sound a bit dated now.
It was cool but the Byrds have s distinctive sound that can get monotonous after a while.
Wasn’t anything special about this to me. Sounded like typical 60s stuff
quite a distinctive sound, all remind me of. mr tambourine man or eight miles high
Like all the other Byrds albums I’ve had so far, this one is OK. There’s some great songs, and some mediocre ones. On the whole, I’ve found none of their albums (that I’ve heard so far) to have been earth shattering and ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ is no exception. It’s the definition of average. Having said that, The Byrds are just about the perfect singles band, and a greatest his comp would probably be pretty good, and the perfect way to listen to their best songs, whilst avoiding listening to all the filler found on their albums.
Its ok
It's nice and jangly, and whips along at a fair old pace. This just reminds me of Saturday mornings, my dad playing this album while cooking a bacon sandwich for everyone. Nostalgia!
Just ok. Beatles-like and not deep
not bad 3.5 ish
Bra eftersom att de hade gjort Bob Dylan låtar, men tråkigt för att de inte gör sin egen grej och lite tröttar ut låtarna Favvolåt: Mr tambourine man
Pretty cool how back then you could make an entire career out of playing dylan songs
The Byrds are fun, but most of their stuff just fades into the others.
Solid - 7/10
Maybe it’s cause I’ve not been listening to the recent albums but idk how to differentiate between 4s n 5s and 3s n 4s.. anyways 6.5/10
Some gratuitous use of stereo. Pretty rippin and fun but not really my style 6/10
Low key sounded like the Beatles but just not as good 6/10
Soft 3. Enjoyed the guitar.
60’s chill music. Couple of catchy songs. Easy album to listen to.
Definitely brings the 60s sound. Weird hybrid of early Beatles and Dylan? I thought I would like it more but I found it overall just fine.
Just kinda middle of the pack 60s music. I kidan enjoyed it more than other sbut not enough to give more than 3 tbh
Nice harmonies
Sounds like early Beatles but not as good
A lot better than the country album, with a few highlights. But still not that special
Decent but not memorable
Liked it but not as much as the previous Byrds albums (Notorious Byrd Brothers). It feels a lot like The California Beatles and the best numbers here are jangly covers of Dylan songs. I like their sound but evidently they got better as they started writing their own stuff.
Mid-sixties jangly-folky-hippie stuff. A good representation of the genre, but not my wheelhouse
2/15/24. The origin of jangle pop? It's cliché to say this is Beatles-esque, but it's what came to mind while listening to this album, of course in a good way! The harmonies were also enjoyable to experience.
My second Byrds album on this list. The typical sound of the 60s, the jangling Rickenbacker, the harmonics, and the Dylan songs all guarantee a good listening time.
Not bad, but didn’t leave much of an impression.
The Byrds are Los Angeles’ imitation Beatles. Heavily influenced by the English group, The Byrds sound extremely similar, with a slightly more prominent rock sound. Most of this album is Bob Dylan covers in the Beatles’ style. Their renditions of “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “We’ll Meet Again” are noteworthy.
Pretty good for the Rents generation music.
2.6 First thing that I thought of was the Waynes World quote "Its not just a cleaver name", as this album had an obscene amount of tambourine going on. Album didnt blow my mind or anything but is an ok listen.
The twelve string Rickenbacker makes this album sound special and I love it. 'Mr Tambourine Man' is a great cover. But many other songs just don't have the same quality in songwriting. It's the sound that makes this album good, and not really anything else.
Bit of a one trick pony with the reverb slow chords and harmony of vocals. It holds a good casual listen, with its beatlesque dream-pop and quirky guitar rhythms.
Really great debut album. Folksy-rock goodness all the way through.
A good exercise in consistency, there is an incredibly similar tone between all songs
Poor man's Beatles. Just ok.
This sounds very 60s British, but to my surprise this band was American, got a nice sound, quite a nice easy listen with its guitar jangles and the delicate singing, it can get a bit tiresome in some ways, but I like the twee vibes here, it's the type of summer vibes that make you feel confident
Never heard the album before, but had heard many of the songs and I can tell the waves of influence it had over many artists. But after about half a dozen songs, they all started sounding the same.
Reminded me of the Beatles but ina good way. Fav Songs: Mr. Tambourine Man, Here Without You, I Knew Id Want You and my biggest fav "Its No Use" Loved the Guitar and even the alternate Version. Solid Album but for me not that much of a Chance of Relistening this Album. Few Songs will get spinned for sure.
The problem with this record is that SO MANY bands of the time have aped this bands sound. Every song sounding more and more like the iconic lead single which happens to also be the albums opener. Still for what this is it is a solid entry into the “Sound of the ‘60s” catalog.
Better than a lot of the sixties bullshit. At least it's pre-psychedelic so that bit if cringe is missing.
The Hollies! But with whiney Americans. This album starts well with it's bright jangly folk rock formula... which continues somewhat incessantly throughout. There are some more thoughtful tunes in here that hint at the later works of the personnel. They really sound like copycats at this point to me. Also shiny black shoes and blue jeans. Hmmmm.
Definitely not the Beatles. Nope. Very different.
Nice set of songs
legal sonzinh sessentista
extremely high quality recording, absolutely in awe of the sound quality. not a huge fan of the music itself - a decent background album for sure, but i don’t think i’d go out of my way to listen
60’er folk rock, det er da godt nok
Pretty great end to end
Not bad, not great. Just The Byrds.
It was fine. I don't know why I didn't like it more. By the time it finished there were certainly moments like "don't doubt yourself babe" that I really enjoyed but I found myself struggling to keep tuned in throughout the whole listening experience.
Lovely 60's memories
One of the few bands to credibly stand alongside the Beatles in the creative explosion that was the 1960s. This album sees the band finding its feet, and deserves much credit, but the real gold appears on later albums.
I enjoyed the whole album, but no single song really stood out to me. It was pleasant enough to listen to.
I think the vocals drag this down. It sounds like it's going for some kind of mild Kingston Trio folk album thing. It's a good way to make Bob Dylan lyrics sound dumb. The band is pretty good but it's smothered by bland harmonies, and I think the best parts are weakened by having to play fast enough to give the bland folky harmonies some momentum. You can hear some of the cooler little guitar arpeggio stuff show up in post punk and it does make me wonder how much influence carried through. music: hated. (⌐❀_❀)
5.5/10 Nice harmony, nice sound, but no songs to remember
Sweet gentle harmonies.
Liked this, good background noise.
oke?
Possibly the most 60’s album you will find. Not bad not great.
Een lekker album, luistert makkelijk weg maar ik vind het niet echt iets bijzonders hebben. Niet een album waar je even voor gaat zitten en gaat luisteren. Wel vrolijk en af en toe lekker gitaartje. Grappig, veel nummers zijn covers van Bob Dylan liedjes en een van de bandleden van the Byrds, David Crosby, is toen hij hier wegging de (ook enorm bekende) band Crosby, Stills & Nash begonnen (komt vast nog een keer een album van hen voorbij hehe) Would buy maar dan wel goedkoop, puur als achtergrondmuziek..
Lekker albumpje, word er vrolijk van, zeker met hoe ze de gitaar gebruiken en de harmonies. Maar vind het wel bijzonder dat dit als zo influential kan worden gezien als de meeste nummers covers zijn van Bob Dylan.
The only Byrds song I’ve ever liked was Eight Miles High. That has not changed after listening to this album.
chill music, great sound all throughout, not that memorable tho
I do really like this. The soft pop style doesn't totally work for me, but the elements of folk rock, that it seems they helped to coin with this album, are excellent. So many Dylan songs which feels really weird to me, and I like them... but don't beat the emotional availability that Dylan uses to highlight his work. Enjoyable listen.
Bijna maar niet helemaal. Weinig of geen drums maakt het wat chaotisch en inconsistent. Net teveel van hetzelfde.
Wel prima, niets bijzonders, beetje Beatles vibe